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Home , Arrogate, Azeri (horse), Bayern (horse), Bob Baffert, Intercontinental (horse), Judy the Beauty

leads all other Breeders’ Cup trainers in money won with his starters accounting for more than $30 million in purses.

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These Breeders’ Cup leaders demonstrate their dominance year after year

By Tom Pedulla SKIP DICKSTEIN

KEENELAND.COM K FALL 2020 67 Secure at the Top BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON BARBARA D. Prince Khalid Abdullah has left his mark on the all of Fame trainer Breeders’ Cup. Bob Baffert could not take his eyes off of the action as he watched NBC’s telecast of the inau- Farms gural 1984 Breeders’ Leading Owner Cup World Champi- onships run at old Hollywood Park. He was condi- From the moment the Breeders’ Cup was es- Htioning Quarter Horses at the time, but the world of tablished in 1984, it became a major target for caught his attention as one stirring Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Judd- race followed another. monte Farms, his international breeding and racing operation. “I got hooked on racing that day,” Baffert said. No one imagined it would be a maddeningly “It was like the Olympics. It was really exciting because you had elusive target until broke through in the jockeys from Europe, trainers you’ve read about. When it was & Turf in 2001. all over, I thought, ‘Maybe I can do that.’ ” “Every year we’d go to the Breeders’ Cup and He can do that, all right. not get a winner,” recalled Garrett O’Rourke, Based on earnings, no one has done it better in Breed- Juddmonte’s manager in the United States. “You’d ers’ Cup history. The same can be said for leading owner walk away and say, ‘We’ve had some good days Juddmonte Farms, top breeder Adena Springs, and premier and horses that ran well.’ You’d give all of the stock jockey Mike Smith, who made like in the Belmont, excuses.” creating a tremendous margin against his fellow riders. Juddmonte, of course, is about performance, not To all of them, their unrivaled success means everything. excuses. There was little doubt the cream would “When you win a Breeders’ Cup race,” Smith said, “it means eventually rise to the top. you beat the best in the country, the best in the world, in the Banks Hill leads a parade of impressive win- c at e g or y.” ners: Intercontinental (Filly & Mare Turf, 2005), Here is a look at the best of the best in Breeders’ Cup history: Ventura (Filly & Mare Sprint, 2008), Midday (Fil- ly & Mare Turf, 2009), (Classic, 2016), Enable (Turf, 2018), and Expert Eye (Mile, 2018). In all, Juddmonte’s 80 starts have accounted for seven victories, 10 runner-up finishes, and eight third-place efforts for $16,815,820 in earnings.

68 FALL 2020 K KEENELAND.COM THE BREEDERS’ CUP… JUST DRIVES ME TO A DIFFERENT‘‘ LEVEL.” — JOCKEY MIKE SMITH SKIP DICKSTEIN Worthy rival Godolphin Racing owns an Banks Hill secured Juddmonte’s first Breeders’ Cup victory in 2001. equal number of wins from 91 starts and ranks second with $15,061,735 in purses. As lofty as Juddmonte’s success is, O’Rourke views it as keeping to Prince Khalid’s vision. “His goal has always been to produce horses capable of running in the very, very best events in the world, whether that be the classics in England, the Arc de Triomphe, the Breeders’ Cup,” the manager said. In the case of the magnificent Enable, she became the first to combine the Arc with a Breeders’ Cup score when she staged a furious rally down the center of the track at to beat rivals in the taxing one-and- a-half-mile Turf. She became just the fourth female to prevail in the Turf. It doubled Juddmonte’s pleasure that

Expert Eye also delivered on the same day. He EBERHARDT ANNE M. bore Prince Khalid’s famous silks — green, Intercontinental earned Juddmonte its second win in the Filly & Mare Turf. pink sash and cap, white sleeves — across the finish line first in the Mile. Six of Juddmonte’s winners were home- breds. “It’s like someone with their kids. There is an extra pride when they succeed,” O’Rourke said. Arrogate stands as the lone exception. His acquisition — a $560,000 purchase at Keene- land’s 2014 September yearling sale — makes a powerful statement about Juddmonte. When Prince Khalid sought success with

Baffert, O’Rourke noted how difficult that SKIP DICKSTEIN EBERHARDT ANNE M. might be for an operation focused on breeding Arrogate defeated in a thrilling renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He retired to Juddmonte’s Lexington division (pictured with Garrett for turf superiority. O’Rourke) before dying unexpectedly in 2020. “Let’s go and buy them,” replied the

KEENELAND.COM K FALL 2020 69 Secure at the Top SKIP DICKSTEIN SKIP DICKSTEIN Juddmonte’s Enable delivered an unforgettable Turf ’s victory in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic proved a victory in 2018. harbinger for Adena Springs’ success in the event.

undeterred Prince Khalid. in a row from 2004-08 before striking again A team of experts was dispatched to the in 2010 and 2011. The operation still holds Keeneland auction, which perennially offers a commanding advantage with $10,112,400 quality in abundance. And when Arrogate in Breeders’ Cup earnings. Juddmonte swept past the great California Chrome in Farms, its closest pursuer, has $7,973,820. the shadow of the Santa Anita wire in the Stronach, 87, has never been afraid to 2016 Classic, he represented yet another think big. When asked during a 2017 inter- bold and brilliant move by Juddmonte. view with America’s Best Racing about his accomplishments, he replied, “If you use your imagination, there is no limit.” In addition to his breeding prowess, Adena Stronach earned four Awards as Outstanding Owner and accepted the high- Springs est honor, the of Merit, in EBERHARDT ANNE M. 2018. He is the most decorated individual in Frank Stronach Leading Breeder the history of the awards. Eric Hamelback worked almost 15 years Adena produced Breeders’ Cup victors for Adena and served as general manager Awesome Again (Classic, 1998), Macho Frank Stronach and members of his fam- from late 2006 until the end of 2014. He Uno (Juvenile, 2000), Perfect Sting (Filly ily secured their place in racing and Breed- noted that Stronach and his family mem- & Mare Turf, 2000), (Classic, ers’ Cup history more than a decade ago bers set the bar high. 2004), (Distaff, 2007), and through Adena Springs’ success. “I would define our mission as achieving Judy the Beauty (Filly & Mare Sprint, 2014). Stronach received an individual Eclipse excellence,” he said, adding, “We are all very, Judy the Beauty was bred by Adena and was Award as Outstanding Breeder in 2000; very proud of the accomplishments we had bought by and raced for Wesley Ward. then Adena rattled off five Eclipse Awards as a team.” Awesome Again was indeed aw­esome

70 FALL 2020 K KEENELAND.COM again because he sired Ghostzap- per, Horse of the Year in 2004. Bobby Frankel, the late Hall of Fame trainer, described Ghostzapper as the “best horse I ever trained.” Ghostzapper still boasts the fastest Classic in Cup history, blazing the mile and a quarter in 1:59.02 as part SKIP DICKSTEIN SKIP DICKSTEIN of his gate-to-wire domination at Lone Stronach leads in Juvenile winner Ghostzapper gave Adena anoth- Star Park. Macho Uno. er Classic victory in 2004. Hamelback said of Awesome Again: “From racetrack to breeding shed, he’s definitely the cornerstone of the program at Adena.” He took equal pride, though, in Judy the Beauty. She was a $20,000 bargain for trainer Wesley Ward at the 2010 Keene- land September yearling sale that earned almost $2 million, illustrating one of the enduring beauties of racing. Great run- ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. ners can come at any price. HARMON CHAD B. Adena bred 2014 Filly & Mare Sprint Awesome Again went from racetrack winner Judy the Beauty. to stallion success. DAVID COYLE DAVID Adena Springs continues to breed high-quality Thoroughbreds.

KEENELAND.COM K FALL 2020 71 Secure at the Top BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON BARBARA D. ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. Baffert began as a Quarter Horse trainer. Thirty Slews gave Baffert his first Breeders’ Cup victory when the gelding took the 1992 Sprint.

annually ensures the event will have an background for his Sprint and Juvenile Bob Baffert international flavor, ranks second with accomplishments. It taught him how to $23,895,590. bring out every bit of a runner’s speed Baffert got a late start and, for him, — at an early age. Leading Trainer a slow start. Thirty Slews supplied his It took him some time to decipher first winner, in the 1992 Sprint. The how to reel in the biggest fish of all Baffert learned hard lessons that helped him gray son of Slewpy illustrates Baffert’s — the Classic. But, of course, he fig- to understand how much Breeders’ Cup success keen eye for a horse. He saw poten- ured that out, too. As in three in a row depends on timing. With so many attractive races tial in Thirty Slews that others did not starting with and followed by available during the spring and summer, it is no and landed him for a relatively mod- and Arrogate. mean feat to have an elite horse ready to run its est $30,000 at the 1988 Keeneland American Pharoah’s 6½-length tour biggest race at the close of what can be a very September yearling sale. de force at Keeneland was one for long season. The silver-haired genius waited until the ages. He emerged as the first Tri- Over time, Baffert learned to identify his Cup 1998 for his next triumph, when Silver- ple Crown champion to complete the prospects early, then work back from the fall- bulletday scored in the Juvenile , Grand Slam by tacking on the Classic. ending championships. and then for four more years for Vin- And he did it with an overpowering dis- “I was having these great years, but by the time dication to provide the first of four Ju- play of horsepower in his career finale. I came to the Breeders’ Cup, my horses, I was just venile triumphs. The others came with “American Pharoah just needed to sort of empty. They were tired, so I had to change (2008), New Year’s Day get out of the gate clean,” Baffert said. the way I prepared for it,” Baffert said. “I had to (2013), and (2018). “He was just so much better than those make sure there was still some juice in the lemon.” Baffert’s powerhouse stable owns horses.” Brilliant trainers make great adjustments. five Sprint victories. After Thirty Slews, Interestingly, Baffert does not list There can be no doubt that Baffert ranks at or went back to back in Pharoah’s Classic as his finest Breed- near the top, no matter the era. He has saddled 2007 and 2008. That high-octane burn- ers’ Cup moment. “My greatest Breed- 119 Cup starters to record 15 victories, 17 sec- er was followed by (2013) ers’ Cup win was with Arrogate in the ond-place finishes, and six third-place results and (2016). Classic,” he said. “He ran down a great for earnings of $30,065,000. Aidan O’Brien, who Baffert credits his Quarter Horse horse, California Chrome.”

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ROB MOASKAL Bayern gave Baffert the first of three won the 1998 Juvenile Fillies for Baffert’s second Breeders’ Cup score. consecutive Classic victories. ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. BENOIT PHOTO ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. The connections of Silverbulletday American Pharoah concluded his career Baffert considers Arrogate’s 2016 Classic celebrate. with a Classic victory at Keeneland. victory his greatest Breeders’ Cup win.

Smith’s ability to make accurate Mike Smith and Mike assessments before the Cup and the Breeders’ Cup are intertwined. during the races themselves ex- Smith plains why he is the runaway lead- er among riders with 26 victories Leading Jockey and $36,634,605 in earnings. Runner-up John Velazquez has used 187 starts to produce 16 wins Jockey Mike Smith loses no while ringing up $27,760,275. time searching for mounts that That level of success led Baffert can take him to the season- to refer to Smith as “Big Money ending world championships. Mike.” As one high-profile win fol- “It starts as soon as the Breed- lowed another, the name stuck. ers’ Cup is over,” Smith said. “The Breeders’ Cup means a “Who’s next, man? Who’s good whole lot to me,” said Smith, 55. “It enough to get you there?” just drives me to a different level. I

KEENELAND.COM K FALL 2020 73 ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. Secure at the Top BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON BARBARA D. EBERHARDT ANNE M. Lure gave Smith his first Breeders’ Cup victory in 1992. Smith guided to a wildly popular Classic win in 2009. SKIP DICKSTEIN CRAWFORD IFLAND CRAWFORD SKIP DICKSTEIN RICK SAMUELS From left, Smith shed tears after Zenyatta’s narrow Classic loss in 2010; rejoicing after Arrogate’s 2016 Classic coup; celebrating ’s 2012 Distaff victory; guiding to a Juvenile Fillies triumph at Keeneland in 2015.

don’t know what it is. I want to win those races first horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup to do as she pleased. “It was her style. She was so bad, I can’t think of anything else.” races. Smith deftly guided her home when she happy and comfortable doing it. As long as she Success did not come quickly. Smith did emerged as the first female to defeat males in was happy and comfortable, she was going to not pilot his first Breeders’ Cup winner until the Classic, a distinction she still holds. She run big,” he said. Lure prevailed in the 1992 Mile, a result the ran her perfect record to 19-0 before losing Smith treasures all 26 of his victories. The would repeat the following year for his by a head to unyielding in the 2010 day Zenyatta’s breathtaking rally allowed her rider. Smith also repeated with Mizdirection Classic. to turn back the boys in the Classic certainly in the Turf Sprint in 2012 and 2013. Smith said of his time with Zenyatta: “It belongs at, or near, the top. Smith’s gaudy total includes a combined was awe inspiring. I was riding her during her “It was a great day to let the world see just nine victories in the Classic and Distaff. He winning streak, so there was always pressure. how good she was,” he said, “and she didn’t got the job done in the Classic with Skip But it was the kind of pressure you like and disappoint.” Away (1997), Zenyatta (2009), Drossel- you’re looking for.” Just when it seemed as if Zenyatta might be meyer (2011), and Arrogate (2016). His Dis- Zenyatta’s running style, nerve-wracking as the distaff runner of a lifetime for Smith, along taff winners are Inside Information (1995), it was, also was a joy to behold. After breaking came Songbird. She announced her superior- Ajina (1997), (2002), Zenyatta (2008), into her customary dance in the paddock, she ity with a 5¾-length romp in the Juvenile Fil- and Royal Delta (2012). would typically break so poorly and work her lies at Keeneland. His magical ride with Zenyatta was unfor- way into a race so slowly that it was almost as Smith does not take credit for that dazzling gettable. When she added the Classic to her if she were spotting overmatched rivals a lead. performance. “It was just a matter of me stay- Distaff success the year before, she became the Smith, smart and patient, allowed Zenyatta ing on,” he admitted. KM

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